The Yucca Valley Police Department has been awarded a traffic safety grant for a program to prevent DUIs, and injuries and deaths related to DUIs. A grant of $18,860 was awarded to YuccaValley by the California Office of Traffic Safety. Managing editor Tami Roleff reports on an upcoming DUI/driver’s license checkpoint in the Town…

The Yucca Valley Police Department will be out in force cracking down on impaired drivers with a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint. A checkpoint is scheduled between the hours of 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on December 15, at an undisclosed location within the town limits. Police Chief Rich Boswell said in addition to DUI and driver’s license checkpoints, the police will be making lots of stops during this highly visible enforcement period. If they suspect anyone is driving while under the influence, officers will show zero tolerance for drunk or drugged driving. Drunk drivers often face jail time, the loss of their driver licenses, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses ranging from attorney fees, court costs, car towing and repairs, to lost wages due to time off from work. Even worse, a drunk driver can cause a traffic crash that claims someone’s life, or their own. Reporting for Z107.7, this is managing editor Tami Roleff.

A hungry man was arrested in YuccaValley Thursday morning after he allegedly stole food and drinks and other property from at least four locations. According to Sheriff’s Sergeant Rick Millard, Joshua Beedie, 32, broke into the Circle K on Old Woman Springs Road about 3:30 a.m. and stole some drinks and food. Beedie allegedly then broke in to the YuccaValleyCommunity Center about 4 a.m. where he tried to steal food out of the vending machines there. Millard said a resident in the 57000 block of Antelope Trail reported a burglar in his home at 4:24. The resident told police that his dog chased the burglar out of the same window he used to break into and enter the home, and Millard said the burglar left behind the stolen property when he fled the residence. In addition, Beedie is suspected of breaking into Citizens on Patrol vehicles at the police sub-station behind the community center. Millard said the Sheriff’s helicopter was called to assist in the search for Beedie, but the helicopter was grounded due to the freak hail storm Thursday morning. After an investigation, Joshua Beedie was located near Sage and Sunnyslope about 9:30 Thursday morning, and arrested on suspicion of burglary and on warrant from KernCounty for possession of a controlled substance. Beedie was booked into the WestValleyDetentionCenter and is being held without bail.

Today is the Second Annual Desert Holiday Art Auction to benefit ReachOutMorongoBasin. The auction will have a variety of art items, including jewelry, cards, photographs, paintings, sculptures, and ceramics. The auction is a way to collect art and benefit the non-profit’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors program at the same time. Last year’s auction raised $3500 for the charity’s programs for seniors and disabled neighbors. And this year, non-perishable food items and holiday gifts will be accepted for low-income and elderly residents. There will be holiday treats, refreshments, and live music. The auction will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today at ArTfx and Furnishings in OldTownYuccaValley, 55836 29 Palms Highway. For more information, call Carlos at 619-990-5683.

The Hi-Desert Chorus winter program, “Sounds of the Season,” under the direction of Bill Barrett and accompanist/composer Clyde Grabski, will be this weekend. The free concerts take place Saturday, December 14, and Sunday, December 15 at the YuccaValleyCommunity Center in the Yucca Room. Doors open at 2:00 and concert begins at 2:30 both days. The program will feature many holiday favorites and some new pieces too. A special guest, the Yucca Valley High School Select Choir, will join them in several songs. The community popular sing-a-longs will also take place. A few songs they’ll be performing: “Sleigh Ride,” ”A Carol In Winter,” “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Where Would We Be Without Christmas,” “We Need A Little Christmas,” one of Grabski’s new songs “We Can Love, Love, Love” and many more.

Have you seen “A Christmas Carol” at Theatre 29? Tonight is the last night to see Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at Theatre 29. This Christmas classic is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation on Christmas Eve as he is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Rob Wanless directs, and Kurt Schauppner plays Scrooge. The curtain opens at 7 p.m. tonight. Tickets are $8 to $12. Reserve yours at theatre29.org or by calling the Box Office at 760-361-4151.

Desert Congregational Church in Twentynine Palms will hold a SaturdayNightChurch Saturday, December 14, at 7 p.m. Musicians of all types are invited to come and play country, bluegrass, and gospel music. The church is located at 5688 Sunrise Road. Call 760-361-0086 for a free ride to the church.

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church’s children’s choir will present a special Christmas song during the December 15 service. Later in the day, a group plans to visit the Christmas lights display on Candy Cane Lane in CathedralCity. Meet at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, 56750 Mountain View Trail in Yucca Valley at 4:00 p.m., or at 5:00 pm. at In-n-Out Burger, 72265 Varner Road in Thousand Palms. For more information, call the church at 760-365-6331.

The California Highway Patrol is collecting toys to distribute to local needy children. Bring your new, unwrapped toy to the California Highway Patrol office in Joshua Tree or to the Yucca Valley Wal-Mart, pharmacy entrance. For more information, call CHP Officer Joan Griffin at 760-366-3707.

This will be the last weekend that Morongo Basin firefighters will be at Walmart during a “stuff the truck” event to receive donations of toys to distribute to needy children. Firefighters will be at Walmart Friday, December 13, from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday, December 14, 1 to 5, and Sunday, December 15, noon to 5, to collect monetary donations and new toys. Toys for both boys and girls up to age 17 should be valued at $20 or less. In addition, residents can drop off toys at many local businesses, banks, and mobile home parks, including at the Z107.7 studio in Joshua Tree, for another week.

The competition for the annual Elks national free-throwing contest will be held at the TwentyninePalmsJunior High School gym this Sunday, December 15 at noon. Boys and girls in three age categories from 8-13 will each have 25 shots at the hoop. The ones with the best scores advance through four tiers of competition to qualify for the National finals. Age groups will be determined as of the child’s age April 1, 2014. For Information call Debbie McClure or Billy McClay at 760-367-2828.

A lot of people think that just because they live in a small town, they can’t make anything out of their lives. However, TPHS alumnus Joshua Hale, disagrees. Currently a Digital Media Arts major at Oklahoma Baptist University, Josh was inspired at a young age to pursue a career in film, recalling, “[He] began abusing [his] parent’s home camcorder until became [his] own, making short films with friends and filming whatever [he] could.” He attests this interest in the movie-making process to films like Jurassic Park and the 2002 Spider-Man.

Today, Josh gives credit to God, his family, and his fiancée for inspiring him and helping him push himself. He adds “Without their backing and support, [he] would not have accomplished what [he] has in the short 3 years [he’s] been attending OBU.”

His advice to other aspiring directors and filmmakers is “to always produce content and to never lose sight of who you are. In the midst of high school where everyone is trying to find their identity, it can be hard to find your voice through a camera lens. Stick with what you love, what you care about, and put that on film… Cellphones are now being used to make movies, so don’t think because you don’t have the latest camera equipment that you can’t make something special. You can, [all] it really takes determination, as opposed to slick software or anything tangible.”

See’s holiday candy is available now through December 23rd at the Joshua Tree Library. The Friends of the Joshua Tree library are offering a wide assortment of candy, great for gifting or filling stockings. To see the full selection go to the Friends website at http://joshuatreefol.org/events.htm or drop into the library. For more information about the Joshua Tree Friends or the See’s Candy fundraiser, please call the Joshua Tree Branch Library at (760) 366-8615.

The Joshua Tree Veterans of Foreign Wars Post will be serving up Sunday breakfast tomorrow. The special is a pork chop or a veggie omelet, served from 8 to 11. And don’t forget Taco Wednesday from 11 to 1.

Coming up in high school sports today, the Yucca Valley High School wrestling team will travel to La Quinta High School, with the meet starting at 5:45 p.m. The YVHS girls basketball team will play University Prep in the Hesperia Tournament, starting at 7 p.m.